COVER: Bongeziwe Mabandla’s new album amaXesha celebrates the days and the times of our lives.
Time. An important commodity to all human life but one that can easily be overlooked. Taken for granted in many instances. It is for that reason that revered singer/songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla wishes to nudge us back into consciousness of this concept that helps us appreciate the different journeys of life, including the here and now.
He does so through music, with his newest 14 track offering amaXesha, which releases today, being no different. The album was recorded at the heart of lockdown and when translated, means ‘the times’. “The times of our lives,” he shares.
Building on his previous album imini – which means days, together these two projects help round up the narrative of time – encouraging us to think back to the most significant moments of our lives and moments that we take for granted.
“These two albums, when interpreted, mean ‘the days of our lives’ and ‘the times of our lives’. When you put these two concepts together, you have memories. It is all about signifying time, the moments that have shifted our lives; while also understanding that time is probably the most valuable commodity that we have as people.
“I use my music to mark these times in my own life. To say ‘okay, in 2021, this is what was top of mind’ or ‘what was important to me’. That regardless of how gloomy life might seem, we are here and should, therefore, take time to be present,” he said.
Music, therefore, has been his own public diary where he records his thoughts only to share those with the world; hoping to inspire the same spirit of remembrance.
Take time out to think back.
As a reflective artist himself, producing music that he hopes encourages the same from the listener, Bongeziwe had to first take a look within himself for inspiration. Recollecting the journey from the hard lockdown, when this album was recorded, to now. It is in between those times that the journaling took place for the music to be born.
“That was my goal. To write my story but knowing that within it, people will find their own stories. I wanted to move us to asking questions, to appreciating life and to celebrate it. Even with the song that I performed at Colors, sisahleleleni (i), I love it because it poses a valid question. That is exactly what I want my work to do. To set up a thoughts and a ways of thinking.
“I try to write a lot about myself, things that happened to me and things that shaped, changed me and those that affect me a lot. What makes this particular album different, also, is that I have grown and I am becoming better at expressing myself through music. The goal hasn’t changed but my growth makes it even more meaningful and clearer,” he said.
The album also includes three other singles that were released earlier in the year, ‘noba bangathini’, ‘ndikhale’ and ‘ukuthanda wena’, and shares that his personal favourite is track number 10 soze, where he believes was able to interpret exactly what he wanted to communicate. A beautiful growth moment.
The artist, fond of many other art forms outside of music, believes that art is a celebration of our lives, who we are, while also reflecting what we are as a people and society. Growing up, Bongeziwe was exposed to a lot of art, with his initial pursuit being painting, “that is what my life was about at some point”. He also dabbled in acting but now says music has his full attention.
“One thing I love about the arts: music/paintings etc. is that while life is hard, it allows you to carve out what is beautiful about it. To shine a spotlight on those beautiful parts of life. Music has allowed us as a people to relate. I mean, when you hear a lyric that speaks about whatever you relate to, it makes us all feel connected and included. That is a powerful thing,” he said.
His career, spanning over a decade now, can be described as a slow burn. “Too slow, if you ask me,” he said laughing.
“And that was very hard for me to understand in the beginning, you know. But as I look back, reflecting on all that I have achieved, it makes it all worthwhile. I am hoping that my career continues to surprise me and so far with each album, it continues to do so.”
His goal, in the beginning, has always been about making music. That meant not overthinking much but really coming from a naive place with no plan B. And while that is still the goal, to purely make music, he now aspires to become an international artist.
“I think everything about how things have turned out has surprised me, really. That I would travel the world or that my music would form part of people’s lives, because I didn’t know what a musician really does in the beginning. And when one pursues music, you are never really sure if people will love your work. All I remember wanting was to make music, regardless.
“But now that we are here, I hope while anyone listens to amaXesha, they get to think about how life is happening and how moments are being created in this present moment. They appreciate the beauty of being alive and be conscious of the here and now. amaXesha, is about looking into what it means to live a life. These are the days and the times of who you are. Celebrate them,” he said.
